9. Parking and Buffers

Character

Throughout all parking areas on the University, the planting development should strive
to incorporate naturalistic groves of native trees. Large expanses of asphalt may be
reduced by incorporating smaller islands into single larger islands to create these
informal tree groves. In addition, the perimeter of the campus will require buffer
plantings in those areas where the adjacent land use is prominent and visually impacts the
campus. These areas shall be treated with a combination of dense native evergreen and
deciduous plant materials which screen and block views. Native plants should be the
primary buffer planting so as to blend with the Conservation Areas and other native
landscape areas outside of the University's boundaries. Once established, the island tree
groves within parking areas and the buffer zones will appear to have been native.

Recommendations

Tree groves in large islands of parking areas should be incorporated to provide shade
canopies and a visual retreat from the expanse of pavement. Restriping the width of
parking spaces from 9 feet to 8.5 feet will free up some space and allow for larger
planting islands with a limited parking loss.

Buffer planting will provide a mixture of understory evergreens in addition to shade
trees. These buffer plantings should be strategically placed at the perimeter of parking
areas and along the campus boundaries where views extend into adjacent residential areas.

Exemplary landscape treatments at storm drainage retention ponds should occur and
provide elevated design ideas for the entire community. The use of native grasses and
water-loving perennials will soften the pond edges. A repetition of the plants used at the
Commons is recommended here.

Existing cultivated, high maintenance plants should be transplanted out of these zones
to the higher maintenance garden zones.

The planting beds in the buffer areas should have long, sweeping curves. Avoid straight
plant bed edges which parallel the property line.

Maintenance

A low level of maintenance will be important in this zone. The use of native plants
will support this.

Issues

Eventual thinning of undergrowth will be necessary in the parking lot islands.

Mulch should be applied to the perimeter of the native tree groves and buffer plantings
to provide for a clean edge treatment. This should be applied 2 times a year to maintain
3" of cover.

Removal of leaf litter will become important in the parking lots where turf exists.